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As Guy Fawkes night approaches, animal welfare groups have issued warnings to pet owners: this can be a frightening and even dangerous time of year for pets. The main issue is the astonishingly common problem of pets being seriously spooked by the sound of fireworks.

Fireworks can be as loud as a jet engineCredit:
The Photolibrary Wales / Alamy

Some pets show obvious signs of distress, such as panting, drooling and trying hysterically to escape from the noise, but there are also more subtle signs that owners should be aware of, including restlessness and messing in the house. Cats often hide, terrified, while rabbits may simply go very still, thumping the ground with their back feet.